National Flash Fiction Youth Competition

The annual National Flash Fiction Youth Competition, founded in 2013, is organized by the Department of English, University of Chester, and the International Flash Fiction Association (IFFA). The winning story is published in Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.

The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2019

The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2019 is open for entries.

Stories must be no more than 360 words (including the title) and be by current AS-level, A-level, or Scottish Higher students aged 16–19 and studying in the UK.

The prizes will be paid in Waterstones vouchers. The winning story will be published in the April 2019 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine and all three stories will be published on this website. Submission to the competition grants Flash and the University of Chester permission to publish the stories. Copyright remains with the author.

The decision of the judges is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Deadline for entries: 8 February 2019.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2014

First prize: ‘Unborn’ by Seeun Choi (Cardiff Sixth Form College). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April 2014 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine. Click hereto read the story

Second prize: ‘What Makes You Want to Visit Again?’ by Esther Samson (Bilborough Sixth Form College, Nottingham). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘The Act of Giving Up’ by Dylan Butcher (Bilborough College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

‘Remedy’ by Sophie McDonald (Wirral Grammar School for Girls, Bebington).

‘Flowers’ by Abby Montgomery (Bilborough College, Nottingham).

‘Commands’ by Jacob Sowter (Ackworth School, Pontefract).

The judges were the author David Gaffney and the editors of Flash.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2015

First prize: ‘Hide and Seek’ by Helena Gurr (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April 2015 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine. Click here to read the story.

Second prize: ‘The Illness’ by Pascale Hall (Brighton College). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘Coco Chanel’ by Catharine Settle (Wirral Grammar School for Girls). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2016

First prize: ‘Silver Linings’ by Charlotte Rhodes (Winstanley College, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine.Click here to read the story.

Second prize: ‘Cut’ by Tuesday Dolan (Bryanston School, Blandford Forum). The prize was £75 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘Vacant’ by Bridget May Jackson (Bishop Heber High School, Malpas). The prize was £50 of Amazon vouchers and publication on this website. Click hereto read the story.

The following stories were Highly Commended:

‘Another Place’ by Lottie Brignall (Knights Templar School, Baldock).

‘Black Trap’ by Rachel Casson (St Vincent College, Gosport).

‘Danse Macabre’ by Deborah Coverley (Westcliff High School for Girls, Westcliff-on-Sea).

‘Lavender’ by Molly Davidson (The Catholic High School, Chester).

‘Cold’ by Kimberley Fearnhead (Winstanley College, Wigan).

‘Dining with Death’ by Maddison Garnett (Kenilworth School and Sixth Form).

The Results of the National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2017

First prize: ‘Flotsam’ by Elise Longden (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine. Click here to read the story.

Second prize: ‘Perfectionist’ by Holly Smith (South Downs College, Waterlooville). The prize was £75 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘Fathomless’ by Ally Fowler (Notting Hill and Ealing High School, London). The prize was £50 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website.Click here to read the story.

The following stories were Highly Commended:

‘Closer’ by Jacob Alexander (Paston Sixth Form College, North Walsham).

‘The Man on the Moon’ by Jacob Bradshaw (Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington).

‘Can’t Live If Living is Without You’ by Jade Wilkinson (Winstanley College, Billinge, Wigan).

‘Bilberries and Dogwood’ by Charlotte Williams (Exeter College).

The judges were the author and editor Tom Hazuka and the editors of Flash.

The Results of The National Flash Fiction Youth Competition 2018

First prize: ‘The Mermaid’s Purse’ by Lucie Stanfield (Winstanley College, Wigan). The prize was £100 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website and in the April issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine. Click here to read the story.

Second prize: ‘Confession’ by Frankie Rufolo (Exeter College). The prize was £75 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.

Third prize: ‘A Decaying Matter’ by Daniel Blurton (Bilborough College, Nottingham). The prize was £50 of Waterstones vouchers and publication on this website. Click here to read the story.